11-Oct-06, Quarters:
Aussie Finalist Guaranteed

The final of the inaugural Village Open is sure to feature an Australian after David Palmer and Stewart Boswell won through to the semi-finals in New York.

All four quarters finished 3/1, with world champion Palmer coming from a game down to beat Wael El Hindi, while Boswell created the only upset of the day as he beat England's Lee Beachill in the longest match of the day.

The other semi-final sees second seed Nick Matthew take on Azlan Iskandar after the Malaysian ended the run from qualifying of Renan Lavigne.

10-Oct-06, Round One:
Renan rocks White in New York

The first round of the inaugural Village Open gave New York squash fans some marathon matches and one stunning upset to enjoy.

Half of the matches were held at the Printing House & Fitness Club, with the others on the glass court at the New Space, where the remainder of the matches will be contested.

Frenchman Renan Lavigne, who qualified at the expense of compatriot Jean-Michel Arcucci, produced the upset when he outlasted fourth-seeded US-resident John White in a see-saw match that went into 'overtime', Lavigne finally taking the fifth 15/13 after 90 minutes in which both had three match balls.

The remaining seven seeds all won through to the quarters, but it was a real struggle for Wael El Hindi.

The eighth-seeded Egyptian found himself 2-1 down against Spanish champion Borja Golan, then survived a tie-breaker in the fourth before clinching the fifth after 95 minutes, the longest match of the day.

"After getting through the two rounds of qualifiers, I've beaten John 15/13 in the fifth, after saving three match balls. "I think it's my most beautiful victory on the PSA circuit, as John just made his re-entry into the top 10, and also after his victory over the world number one in the Dunlop British Open. I have a lot of respect not only for him, but also for all what he brings to the world of squash and for his personality. "I tried to apply my game plan, which didn't work all the time, but I dug in there.... I was leading in all the games (except in the fifth), but every time I was ahead a few points, he would come back with a vengeance thanks to out of this world winners! "In the fifth, I was behind the whole game, 2/6, then 8/10, but still I hung in there, and kept telling myself that it was not over. I thought about Thierry's match against David in the British, or (and sorry for that Greg), about Greg's match against the same David in the final of the worlds, where he finally lost the match after having five match balls. "But I was fully aware that it could have gone John's way when we were at 13/13 in the fifth. It's a toss of a coin really...

David Palmer

Azlan Iskandar

Stewart Boswell

World Class squash that
makes a difference ...

Run as a not-for-profit event with proceeds going to support CitySquash - an urban academic enrichment program in the Bronx - the Village Open allows New York squash fans to enjoy the best squash in the world while at the same time donating to an organization that is making a tremendous difference in the lives of some very special young people.

The later stages of the tournament will be held on an all-glass court at the New Space (530 West 21st street between 10th & 11th ave), just blocks away from Printing House Fitness + Squash Club which hosts qualifying and half of the first round.
 

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